The Abingdon Mummers have been performing the Sunningwell version of the ancient mummers play in the pubs of central Abingdon this evening.

The play can take from ten to fifteen minutes depending on the audience, and involves among other happenings a sword fight and the death of one character and his resuscitation with the aid of an flashing brolly.

The play ends with the mummers singing ‘We wish you a merry Christmas’.

The collecting box is then taken round to raise money for a local charity – in 2016 that is the Abingdon Breakaway Club.

After the performance all the character drink some of the pub’s best brew before going to the next performance.

Yesterday the Country Market were in the Day Centre in the Charter.

You had to get there fairly early to buy one of their Christmas ‘Figgy’ Puddings. They don’t actually contain figs but are full of raisins, currants and brandy.

When the last one was gone there was no use singing ‘I won’t go until I get some‘.

The Country Market are there on the 2nd Saturday of each month – next one is Saturday 14th January 2017.

The Abingdon Blog has recently been featured on The Civic Coach, a website that helps civic leaders to make the most of their chance of serving their community. It is written by Abingdon’s youngest ever Mayor, Duncan Brown.

Duncan features in my most viewed Abingdon Blog youtube video ever. Normally such videos gets a few hundred views. But this video has been viewed worldwide by 117,388 people at the time of writing. Here is Duncan Brown with the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers from 2 years ago.

Press the youtube icon, after it starts, to watch it on youtube, and read hundreds of comments. What does the world think when they see Morris Dancing.

The Friends of Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool are holding their AGM in the King Charles Room at the King’s Head & Bell, East St. Helen St, Abingdon on Wednesday 9th November 2016 at 7.30 pm.

The short business meeting will be followed by Guest Speaker, Sarah Thelwall. Sarah is passionate about outdoor swimming and is currently working her way round all the lidos in the UK of which there are thought to be 130. So far she has swum in 85 pools in the last four summers, Abbey Meadow Pool being one of them!

She has been analysing the business models of lidos, so she can talk knowledgeably about what makes a successful outdoor pool.

Anyone interested in the future of the outdoor pool is welcome.

The bar will be open in the King Charles Room at 7 pm for half-an-hour before the beginning of the meeting. Website: www.abingdonoutdoorpool.org.uk.